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Lawyers seek text messages from coaches in Vanderbilt rape case

Four former Vanderbilt football players are accused of raping an unconscious student. (Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

A court filing in the case against four former Vanderbilt University football players charged with rape seeks evidence of text messages sent by coaches, reports The Tennessean's Tony Gonzalez.

The report states that lawyers for one of the former players think the text messages could provide more background on what happened.

The filing was made by the defense attorneys for Brandon Vandenburg, who said in the motion that a “large amount” of evidence hasn't been provided to them by authorities as it should have been under the rules of discovery in criminal cases.

Vandenburg, Cory Batey, Brandon Banks and Jaborian McKenzie are charged with five counts of aggravated rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. Each pleaded not guilty and is free on bond.

The attorneys have been reviewing evidence provided on 57 CDs and DVDs, but said some discs were defective and that they have not gotten other items, including statements by witnesses, evidence on other discs, “text messages from witnesses and coaches,” and other records.